Chapter 46: The Great Task is Yet Unfinished, We Must Still "Endure"

Gao Hui then took out a map from his Storage Bag and spread it out upon the table.

This was a regional map centered around Baishi Town. He reached out and pointed to a darker, low-lying basin to the south of the town.

"This place lies within the borders of Fengling Town. Just a short while ago, a band of grave robbers dug up the entrance to an underground ancient tomb. The entrance is sealed with a formation restriction that ordinary people cannot breach. It looks quite extraordinary. Our preliminary judgment is that it should be the ruins of some ancient, prominent clan."

"After inspecting the site, the people of Fengling Town realized they could not crack it on their own. Thus, they passed the word to several neighboring towns, hoping we could lend assistance by sending cultivators to explore the ancient tomb together."

"You are well aware of the current situation among the Eight Towns of Wangyue, Family Head Yang. There are not many clans left that can still dispatch cultivators. Although there are risks involved, I believe this is an exceptional opportunity."

Yang Lingqing fell into deep thought upon hearing his words.

Before leaving, Yang Guanfeng had evaluated Gao Hui, deeming him a man who could be trusted.

The Yang family and Baishi Town had already progressed from simple mutual benefit to the status of true allies. Therefore, Yang Lingqing did not doubt his information or his motives.

However, as for whom to send, she still needed to consult with Elder Yu before making a decision.

"Allow me to discuss this with the elders of my household before giving the Town Chief an answer, if that is well with you?" Yang Lingqing asked.

"Of course. I will be leading our group out in three days. Once you have finished your deliberations, Family Head Yang, simply send someone to Baishi Town to find me."

After Gao Hui departed, Yang Lingqing summoned Elder Yu and informed him of the matter.

"Gao Hui speaks the truth. At a time like this, many clans cannot spare any hands. It is indeed a rare opportunity," Elder Yu said. "Lingqing, in your view, who would be suitable to send?"

Yang Lingqing pondered for a moment and replied, "Lingrui and Zhao Qi."

"Lingrui..."

Hearing Yang Lingrui's name, Elder Yu hesitated slightly.

Because of the boy's extraordinary talent, he felt a natural reluctance to let him face dangers in the outside world.

"I can understand your anxiety, Elder Yu, but you also know that the strength of a cultivator does not lie solely in their realm and cultivation base," Yang Lingqing said. "If one merely stays cooped up at home to cultivate and never experiences the trials of wind and rain, I fear the Great Dao will be difficult to attain."

"That is indeed the truth. Sigh... I am truly growing old, becoming so hesitant and fearful of loss." Elder Yu shook his head and sighed.

That evening, after Yang Lingrui concluded his cultivation, Yang Lingqing informed him of the matter.

Upon learning that he could go out to explore an ancient tomb, Yang Lingrui's interest was instantly piqued.

"This is a wonderful thing. I have been feeling restless from too much stillness lately and was just thinking of traveling abroad. This ancient tomb is the perfect destination."

Elder Yu had also notified Zhao Qi. Early the next morning, after paying his respects to Chen Yang, Yang Lingrui took Zhao Qi and set out for Baishi Town.

His cultivation realm was concealed to look as though he had only just broken through to the third layer of Qi Gathering. Unless a Condensed Origin cultivator inspected him, no one would be able to see through it. This served as a reliable safeguard.

As the guardian treasure of the Yang clan, Chen Yang also acted without a sound, separating two small fragments of his consciousness to protect the Sea of Consciousness at the crown of their heads.

This was currently the only method he could employ to aid the Yang family beyond the range of his consciousness coverage; the rest would depend entirely on themselves.

When they arrived at the town gate, a cultivator at the second layer of Qi Gathering from the Town Chief's Manor was already waiting. Seeing the two arrive, he stepped forward to greet them.

"Welcome, Fellow Daoists. Please follow me into the town."

This was the first time both Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi had set foot inside Baishi Town. The former had rarely left home because he spent all his time cultivating, while the latter had once waited outside the town walls with his family for three days and three nights without ever being granted entry.

Yet, looking at it from another perspective, failing to enter the town back then had been a blessing in disguise; otherwise, they would likely have perished when the city was breached.

One could only say that the shifts between fortune and misfortune were truly unpredictable and impossible to fathom.

"Lingrui, you have arrived! And this must be Immortal Master Zhao Qi. Please, enter!"

Gao Hui welcomed the two into the manor. At this moment, there were already two other cultivators seated inside the room.

Seeing the pair enter, they both stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Greetings to the esteemed cultivator of the Yang clan."

Like Zhao Qi, these two were only at the first layer of the Qi Gathering realm. From this, one could see just how massive an impact the dynasty's conscription of personnel had inflicted upon the clans of every region.

Let alone mid-stage Qi Gathering cultivators, the entire Baishi Town could not even produce a single person at the second or third layer.

The third layer of Qi Gathering that Yang Lingrui was currently displaying was already an existence that many clans could only look up to but never hope to reach.

'This person's aura is so powerful; he is undoubtedly at the third layer of Qi Gathering.'

'To be capable of sending out a third-layer cultivator means there must be another expert presiding over their home. Everyone says the Yang clan possesses formidable strength, and today I have truly witnessed it.'

The two thought to themselves in awe.

"Very well. Now that everyone is present, please be seated."

Gao Hui then proceeded to inform them of the route for this journey, the current intelligence regarding the ancient tomb, and various other arrangements.

The ancient tomb was still a ten-day journey from Baishi Town. Gao Hui intended to have the four of them rendezvous with the cultivator groups from Liuye and Qinghe the following day before setting off together.

With more people, they could better look out for one another along the way.

That evening, Gao Hui paid a private visit to Yang Lingrui.

"Lingrui, your speed of cultivation truly fills one with envy."

"Haha, Town Chief Gao knows full well that it is entirely due to the family's Spirit Liquid that I have achieved what I have today," Yang Lingrui replied with a laugh.

Gao Hui shook his head. "Sigh, you cannot say that. Even with Spirit Liquid, one must still successfully refine it. This is all the result of your own diligent cultivation."

Yang Lingrui merely smiled again at those words, then shifted the topic. "I am somewhat curious, however. Now that Baishi Town has been completely rebuilt and the situation within the dynasty has stabilized, what are your plans for the future, Town Chief Gao?"

The plans he spoke of did not refer to the future development of Baishi Town, but rather to Gao Hui's personal prospects.

"Sigh..."

At the mention of this, Gao Hui could not help but let out a weary sigh.

"It is difficult. The dynasty is different from a Sect. Most of the time, it places less weight on talent and far more on birth, background, and seniority. I, Gao Hui, possess none of these three. Although the report on the completion of the town's reconstruction was submitted long ago, there has been no news since."

"How could that be?" Yang Lingrui was somewhat astonished. "With my family's assistance, the construction period was shortened by more than half. How could there be no word at all?"

"Indeed. I originally believed that accomplishing this task would bring about a turning point, but reality is cruel. Those above know you have no backing. Since you are capable, they will simply make you do more work. As for promotions, I am afraid there is only hope once my age and seniority have accumulated."

Gao Hui stood up and walked over to the window, gazing up at the bright moon in the distant sky.

"Lingrui, sometimes I truly envy you all. As a fellow cultivator of the Dao, you should understand how agonizing it is to have your cultivation suppressed, unable to advance even an inch."

Hearing this, Yang Lingrui could not help but sigh softly as well.

That single word, "endure," spoke volumes of the bitterness Gao Hui had tasted over the years.

Yet, was his own Yang clan not the same?

During the fifty years prior, the Yang clan in Liuye City had been enduring bit by bit, and their circumstances had been even more wretched than those of the Liang family later on.

If not for that fateful day on the Fish Ridge River when a young man dove into the water to rescue a cultivator, the Yang clan would likely have been "endured" into a pot of meat stew by now, divided and devoured to the bone by others.

Though life was good now, and the Yang clan had seized several opportunities to rise like a flood dragon riding the wind-becoming a top-tier power between the two towns-they were still as immature as children playing in the alleys when compared to true behemoths like the dynasty, the Sects, or the ancient great clans.

There was still a long road to travel in the days ahead, and they would have to continue to "endure."

Just how long would they have to endure?

Yang Lingrui pondered this deeply, and in the end, his thoughts settled firmly upon himself.

'In times of safety, one must never forget danger.'

Yang Lingrui silently recited in his heart: 'I have not yet achieved Condensed Origin, and our great task is yet unfinished. I must never allow myself to become complacent. I must remain diligent, and I must remain cautious...'